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checking bellhousing alignment, nessary?

Posted By: dirt

checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/29/09 02:43 AM

I was wondering how important it is to check the bellhousing alignment on a manual transmission?
the clutch instructions always say check with a dial indicator . I just agot a T56 6 speed for my 360 and was wondering how imortant it is and what happens if it is a little off?
it has a lakewood bell with a 1/2" adapter plate.
what should the tolerance be ?
Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/29/09 03:10 AM

The book says a MAX of .008 run out... it is advised
to check it if another bell housing is being used
off set dowels are avalible
Posted By: Blakcharger440

Re: checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/29/09 03:13 AM

I would like to know how it is done as well. I know they sell offset dowels if the alignment is not correctly oriented.

I would also like to konw if the tools involved are expensive and if there is some way to do it cheaply.
Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/29/09 03:21 AM

Quote:

I would like to know how it is done as well. I know they sell offset dowels if the alignment is not correctly oriented.

I would also like to konw if the tools involved are expensive and if there is some way to do it cheaply.




Dial indacator mounted (clamped) to the crank flange,
take the reading in the large hole on the bell
housing that the trans slides into, turn the crank
slowly to watch the indacator
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/29/09 04:27 AM

Once you lose a tranny or any other part because the tranny is not centered on the crankshaft centerline you will make sure that the bellhousing is measured and corrected the next time Do it right the first time and you will not have to fix it later This is real important on a stick car, not as important on the automatic trans. due to the loose clearances on the front pump and input shft clearances
Posted By: AlexP

Re: checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/29/09 05:04 AM

This is still the only part of doing my 4-speed swap that I'm not looking forward to.
Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/29/09 05:19 AM

Quote:

This is still the only part of doing my 4-speed swap that I'm not looking forward to.




Its actually quite easy, back when I use to run a
stick car I made up a mount that bolted to the flange
and held the indacator. It was a 3/8" rod welded to
a small plate that bolted to the flange, turned down
on the end so I could mount the indacator and adjust
it. Once I had the bell housing centered on the crank
I tack welded the pins to the block so they wouldnt move.
If your smart you do this at the beginning of your
engine build up so its just the crank in the block
Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/29/09 05:30 AM

The key is to make sure your indicator DOES NOT MOVE! I did mine 3 or 4 times and got different numbers every time. talk about frustrating!

at least i was able to see the pattern and know which way I had to move my bell, so, while I don't know my exact run-out, I do know that it's between .004 and .008!

all my paperwork said to keep it less than .005 and I've got 3,000 miles on it with no problems, so it must be ok, whatever it is!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/29/09 05:32 AM

Even in my limited experience--CHECK IT

My old 440 sixpack car had that awful compact 10 7/8? 11"? clutch, and I had several problems with clean release over the years. I put over 140,000 on that car, but the original engine gave me most of these problems, AND WAS HARD ON pilot bushings Later in it's life, after I swapped in the 340--these problems simply went away

Three of my friends were involved with Lakewood shields in Jeep engine/ trans swaps. Every single one had quality control issues. The worst was to put a Ford toploader 4spd against a Buick V6. The bolt pattern on the face of the bell was ROTATED so that the transfer case hung down at a much greater angle than it should

"We" were not impressed.


It doesn't take very long to check one. Just set a dial up on the bell and check the flywheel for runout on the clutch face

Then set the dial up ON THE flywheel and you can check

The runout/ concentricity of the center hole bore

and reset the needle to the FACE of the bell to check for parallel to the block

Be sure to compensate for front/ rear movement of the crank play in the thrust
Posted By: ThermoQuad

Re: checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/29/09 11:04 AM

Unless you want vibration and other problems like premature thrust bearing wear you MUST check it.
0.0080 of runout is unacceptable. 0.0050 or less, the closer to zero the better it shifts. You also need to check for the trans mounting flange to be square with the engine. You should torque every fastener before checking the runout and repeating the process to ensure the measurements repeat. I would suggest using studs rather than bolts.

Attached picture 4982496-runout.jpg
Posted By: RTSE4ME

Re: checking bellhousing alignment, nessary? - 01/30/09 01:26 AM

Get your dowels from RobbMC....

http://www.robbmcperformance.com/products/dowels.html

Also, I noticed when the you align the bellhousing the trans is much easier to install.
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